[Persistent atrial paralysis: reported of 2 cases]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Electrophysiology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Persistent atrial standstill is characterized by absent atrial electrical activity, rendering the atria unresponsive to stimulation.
• It manifests in total or partial forms, identified through electrophysiologic mapping.
• Patient cohorts include those with chronic cardiopathy, muscular dystrophy, and an idiopathic group.

Observation:

• This article presents two distinct clinical cases of persistent atrial standstill.
• Case 1 involved a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy, exhibiting total atrial standstill.
• Case 2 featured a patient with rheumatic heart disease, demonstrating partial standstill affecting the right atrium's apical portion.

Findings:

• Electrophysiologic mapping confirmed total atrial standstill in the dilated cardiomyopathy case.
• Partial atrial standstill, localized to the right atrium apex, was observed in the rheumatic heart disease case.
• The findings underscore the varied clinical and electrophysiological presentations of atrial standstill.

Implications:

• These cases expand the understanding of persistent atrial standstill in different cardiac conditions.
• Further research into the mechanisms and management of atrial standstill is warranted.
• Accurate diagnosis through electrophysiologic mapping is crucial for patient management.